18 Days : North and East Historic route + Simien Mountains National Park

Flight to Bahir Dar and sightseeing(Blue Nile falls) ; Flight to Bahir Dar. After arriving, you will enjoy sightseeing that includes a tour to the Blue Nile falls. Overnight in a hotel.

Bahir Dar sightseeing (ancient monasteries)In the morning, you will take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the monastery of UraKidane Mihret which is the most famous of Zege Peninsula monasteries.In the afternoon, we drive to Gondar. Overnight in a hotel.

Gondar sightseeing; Visit the castles built by the Emperor Fasilides and his descendents.Then we continue to the fascinating Debre Berha Selassie Church, one of the world’s cultural heritages. Overnight in a hotel.

Simien Mountains trekking / stay at Sankaber Camp Simien Mountains have the most spectacular of all Ethiopian landscape. In the morning, we will drive to the first area of the national park where you start trekking, via Debark town. The starting point will be flexible depend on your interest and time. You will be rewarded with marvelous escarpment and different plant species. You will most certainly encounter troops of the endemic Gelada Baboon and see them up-close. You may also see clips pringer, bushbuck, different plant species and birds species. We will continue trekking toSankaber(3250) camp where we camp the first

SimienMountains trekking / stay atGich CampAfter a breakfast, you will set off trekking to Gich. It is 15km, about 7 hours trek. You will trek along the edge with stunning views over the foothills 800m below. You will most certainly encounter troops of the endemic gelada baboons and see them up-close. You may also see Klipspringer, bushbuck, rock hyrax in the steep rocky and wooded slopes.The highlight of the trek is Jinbar waterfalls, an incredible 530m sheer drop, the longest fall in Ethiopia. This area is good to see different small birds such as one of the Ethiopian endemic bird- Abyssinian Catbird, Starlings, Swifts and Swallows. From the Jinbar waterfalls, we will continue to Jinbar river and have a picnic near the more peaceful waterfall. Then we will ascend to gich camp After we arrive at the campsite, you have some time for snack and then head out for a short optional sunset trek up about 185mabove the camp to Kedadit. On this point (3,786m), you will look 360 degrees around the Simien Mountains and to the lowland mountains. Then, we will come back to the camp for dinner.

Simien Mountains trekking / stay at Chenneck CampIn Gichcampsite, the sunrise is earlier than the other campsites. Afterbreakfast, we will climb to Mt. Imet Gogo, an incredible rocky promontory and the most spectacular viewpoint in the SimienMountains. This is really breathtaking view and you will never forgetin your mind. 300m gentle slope take you to the summit that grants 360degreeviews over the Simien Mountain range. It descends about 300m to the valley,which is the source of the Jinbar river. The trekking route passes vegetated area through Festuca grassland, Lobelia plant, everlastingflower, EricaArboria tree. Then, we will climb Mt. Innatye about 600m up to thesummit passing through the jangle. You will enjoy the stunning viewsand terrifying vertical drop views. The views are arguably the best inthe Simien Mountains. After having a picnic lunch on the top of theMt.Innatye, the path follows mostly downhill though open grassland andGiant Lobelia towards Chenneck camp. Chenneck camp is the third camping site of the national park and is located in a beautiful valleyat the foot of theMt. Bwahit, at the altitude about 3,620m. You will encounter a numberof stunning viewpoints along the way. Moreover, this area is superbfor wildlife with both Gelada Baboons and Walia Ibex.

Drive to Axum; afterbreakfast, through the chains of the Simien Mountains, you will be drivento ancient town of Axum. Overnight in a hotel.

Sightseeing of Axum; After an early breakfast, you will visit Stelae Park, Museum,Archeological sites, palace and bath of Queen Sheba’s. Overnight in a hotel

Drive to Mekele and sightseeing; In the morning drive toMekele visiting the temple Yeha. The temple is believed to be the oldest standing building in Ethiopia. You will continue to the 6thcentury famous Monastery of Debre Damo established by Abune Aregawione of the nine Saints came toEthiopia in the 6th century in the reign of King Kaleb to spreadChristianity. The monastery is only for men and accessed by climbing rope. Overnight in a hotel.

Drive to Lalibela; a full day drive to Lalibela. You will pass outstanding chains of mountains. Overnight in a hotel.

Lalibela sightseeing; a full day sightseeing of Lalibela. You will visit the magnificent Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela that are carved out from one single rock. Overnight in a hotel.

Excursion to Asheten Mariam; In the morning, you will visit a monastery on the top of a mountain. You will trek or ride mule (your choice). In the afternoon, you will do the excursion to Yimrehane Kiristos a built up cave church.Overnight in a hotel.

Drive to Dessie/ Kombelcha; After an early breakfast, you will leave Lalibela en route visits the monastery of Nakuto Leab and continue to Dessie/Kombelcha. Overnight in a hotel.

Drive to Awash and visit Afar people; Drive to Awash through the beautiful landscape of North Shewa where you can see the northern rift valley escarpment. Iifetime allows the possibility to visit the Bati market and the Afar people. Overnight in a hotel

Awash National Park and drive to Harar; Morning game drive to Awash National Park for wildlife, bird watching, and a spectacular waterfall. You will continue to Harar. Overnight in a hotel.

Harar sightseeing; Full day sightseeing of Harar the UNESCO registered walled city with more than 99 mosques, museums, local market and house. In the evening, you can enjoy hyena man performance feeding the wild hyena.Overnight in a hotel.

Flight/ Drive back to Addis Ababa; Depending onyour choice, you will fly or drive back to Addis Ababa.